A GIRL who was still inside her mother's womb when she suffered grievous brain damage, allegedly because of an ambulance crew's negligent delay, has won £585,000 agreed compensation.

The nine-year-old's mother from Chester, who was 37 weeks pregnant at the time, was staying with friends in Liverpool in August 1992 when there was an obstetric emergency and an ambulance was summoned.

Although the ambulance arrived promptly, the girl's lawyers claimed there was a negligent delay of about 45 minutes before the ambulance began its journey to Fazackerley Hospital.

They argued the delay in getting the expectant mother to hospital had terrible consequences for her child who was born with cerebral palsy and would be severely disabled for life.

Through her parents, the girl sued the Mersey Regional Ambulance Service NHS Trust which agreed to settle her case for £585,000 at London's High Court ­- without any admission of liability.

The Trust denied negligence, also claiming any delay was not the cause of the girl's injuries.

The girl's counsel, Deirdre Goodwin, paid tribute to the 'particular dedication' of her parents whose unstinting efforts had enabled their daughter to maximize her potential.

And Angus Moon, while emphasising there had been no admission of liability, added: 'The ambulance service has asked me to express its profound regret for the injuries this girl has suffered.'